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Illegal immigrants and their children, many of whom were born in the U.S. and are citizens, could make up a sizeable chunk of the often-cited 46 million people without health insurance in the U.S.

The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that as many as 15 million of the uninsured in the U.S. are undocumented immigrants and their children.

The 46 million figure has been quoted by President Barack Obama and others in the debate over health care reform. The figure comes from U.S. Census Bureau estimates that takes account illegal immigrants and other non-U.S. citizens living in the U.S.

The Census Bureau number lists 9.7 million non-citizens living in the U.S. as part of the overall uninsured numbers, including some illegal immigrants.

Census Bureau data also shows that close to 31 million of the 46 million insured have family incomes of less than $50,000 a year. There are 7 million people in the U.S. who make more than $75,000 annually and do not have health insurance.